Dave Casper

David John Casper (February 2, 1952-) is often remembered for his efforts in two plays to insure critical victories for the Oakland Raiders in both the playoffs and against key rivals. Dave Casper was an All-American tight end at the University of Notre Dame; was the 1973 Notre Dame Offensive MVP and helped lead the Fighting Irish to the 1973 National Championship over the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. The Oakland Raider selected Casper in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft inserting him into an offense that included Pro Bowl gunslingers Ken Stabler, Mark van Eeghen and Daryle Lamonica and Hall of Famers George Blanda and Fred Biletnikoff. By 1976, The Ghost, as he was called, had established himself as a fierce competitor, and excellent play maker and an accomplished blocker to boot, as he became the everyday tight en on the powerful Oakland team. In Casper’s first six seasons with the Raiders, he helped the “Silver and Black” reach the AFC Championship Game five times and win Super Bowls XI and XV. He was a five-time NFL All-Pro First Team selection and appeared in five NFL Pro Bowls. As far as his legendary plays were concerned, Casper caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Kenny Stabler, setting up a game-tying field goal against the Baltimore Colts in the 1977 Division Playoff game. The play is known as “The Ghost to the Post.” The next season, Dave recovered a fumble in the end zone with 10 seconds left against the San Diego Chargers to seal the Raiders come-from-behind victory. Dave played 13 seasons with the Raiders (1974-1980, 1984), the Houston Oilers (1981-1983) and the Minnesota Vikings (1983). During his career, Dave Casper amassed 5,216 receiving yards and 52 receiving touchdowns. In total, he collected 5,243 yards from scrimmage, recovered five fumbles and scored 53 career all-purpose TDs for 318 total points. Dave Casper was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.